dBpoweramp Music Converter has been updated & refined over 10 years, the result is Release 14 which offers new:

AccurateRip v2: over the years since AccurateRip's inception (8 years ago), AccurateRip has been universally praised as the first and foremost technique to ensure error free CD rips. AccurateRip can only function if the disc has been previously submitted to the database...Often discs have multiple pressings, AccurateRip v2 enables a rip to verify using a different pressing, thus expanding the database by a factor of 4 or more! In addition a new enhanced CRC has been introduced to ensure AccurateRip will continue being the standard-bearer of Ripping Perfection.

16 CPU Support: encoding to mp3? and have a 'serious metal' computer'? dBpoweramp will use up to 16 cores making short work of encoding. With 16 CPU cores support dBpoweramp is future proofed for today's and tomorrows systems.

Unlimited PerfectMeta: We have heard that people love the idea behind PerfectMeta in CD Ripper: using multiple top-rate-commercial providers to cross-check and remove spelling mistakes / missing discs. What they did not love was the yearly renewal for metadata access, we listened and R14 has a perpetual access - no renewals!

PerfectMeta also features SontaDB, a classical specific database with extended fields just for classical (Composer, Conductor, Period, Instrument, Soloists, etc).

Explorer Property & Thumbnail Handler: does it irritate that the tag editor built into Windows Explorer in Windows 7 does not support your audio type?, R14 can help by enabling Windows to read metadata from any audio type dBpoweramp supports (practically all formats):

I've installed R14. In Options>>Ripping Method, both options Secure and Defective by Design are grayed out (hence not selectable). Does this mean my Trial has ended? A few weeks ago I had the beta version installed during a few days.

I've installed R14. In Options>>Ripping Method, both options Secure and Defective by Design are grayed out (hence not selectable). Does this mean my Trial has ended? A few weeks ago I had the beta version installed during a few days.

You can select an albums worth of files >> Edit ID Tag >> Add Album Art and it will display a list from the internet, click the one you want and the art is added to be embedded in the album, you can also select the Export To Folder.jpg if needed there also.

Spoon, would you mind detailing the options offered in the way of gap placement/handling and what structures of CUE sheets dBpoweramp with be generating/supporting? How to they compare to the five varieties that EAC creates?